
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON QUARTERLY
29
and failures; words of the deepest tenderness were the last
that fell upon their ears from the lips of their Lord. With
hands outstretched in blessing, and as if in assurance of His
protecting care, He slowly ascended from, among them, drawn
heavenward by a power stronger than any earthly attraction.
As he passed upward, the awe-stricken disciples looked with
straining eyes for, the last glimpse of their ascending Lord.
A cloud of glory hid Him from their sight; and the words
came back to them as the cloudy chariot of angels received
Him, `Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the ,
world.' At the same time there floated down to them the
sweetest and most joyous music from the angel choir."—"The
Desire of Ages," pp. 830, 831.
3.
"When the disciples went back to Jerusalem, the people
looked upon them with amazement. After the trial and cruci-
fixion of Christ, it had been thought that they would appear
downcast and ashamed. Their enemies expected to see upon
their faces an expression of sorrow and defeat. Instead of
this there was only gladness and triumph. Their faces were
'aglow with a happiness not born of earth. They did not
mourn over disappointed holies, but were full of praise and
thanksgiving to God. . . . The disciples no longer had any
distrust of the future. They knew that Jesus was in heaven,
and that His sympathies were with them still. They knew
that they had a friend at the throne of God, and they were
eager to present their requests to the Father in the name
of Jesus. In solemn awe they bowed in prayer, repeating
the assurance, 'Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My
name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in
My name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may' be full.'
They extended the hand of faith higher and higher, with the
mighty argument, 'If is Christ that died, yea rather, that is
risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also
maketh intercession for us.'
"—Id., pp. 832, 833.
4.
"Christ's ascension to heaven was the signal that His
followers were to receive the promised blessing. For this
they were to wait before they entered upon their work. When
Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned
amidst the adoration of the angels. As soon as this ceremony
was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples
in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with
the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity.
The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven's communication that
the Redeemer's inauguration was accomplished."—"The
Acts
of the Apostles," pp. 38, 39.
5.
"In obedience to the word of their Master, the disciples.
assembled in Jerusalem to wait for the fulfillment of God's